AUSTRALIA
Trademark Law Amendment - On 27 March 2007, the Australian trademark law was amended. The grace period for a late renewal has been reduced from 12 months to 6 Months.
This change of Grace period only applies for renewals on or after 27 March 2008.
BAHRAIN
Trademark Law Treaty (TLT) - On 18 March 2007,
the Trademark Law Treaty entered into force in Bahrain.
Priority Claim - As from 7 June, the IP Office of Bahrain is accepting claiming priority for trademark and industrial design applications.
Although Bahrain is a member of the Paris Convention as of October 29, 1997, claiming priority was not possible until the abovementioned date.
IRAQ
Boycott Declaration - Since 22 July 2007, the Boycott Declaration is no longer required for the filing of trademark applications. This also includes applications pending since 2003.
KAZAKHSTAN
Trademark Law Amendment - On March 15 2007, the trademark law had been amended, the duration of the Use requirement changed from 5 years to 3 years.
SAN MARINO
Madrid Protocol - On 12 September 2007, the Madrid Protocol regarding the international registration of trademarks will enter into force in San Marino.
SINGAPORE
Trademark Law Amendment (Trademark Act 2007) - The trademark Act 2007 amending the trademark law came into force in Singapore on 2 July 2007.
According to this new act, the main changes are as follows:
- Divisional applications: it is possible to divide a trademark application into two or more applications.
- Multiple class registration: multi-class applications/registrations are allowed. This allows for one single application in multiple classes of goods and services to lead to one registration. Upon registration, the registration is maintained as one, resulting in the need to renew only once for the renewal to be effective for all the classes of goods and services registered.
SOUTH KOREA
Trademark Law Amendment - On July 1 st 2007, amendments to the trademark law came into force.
As from this date the term for opposition has been extended from 30 days to 2 months.
Holograms are now protected in the protection scope of the trademark system in South Korea.
SYRIA
New Trademark Law - A new trademark law (Syrian Law no.8 of 2007) was issued in Syria on March 12, 2007 and entered into force on April 12, 2007. According to the regulations, the documents required for filing trademark applications are as follows:
1- A power of attorney, notarized. A separate power is required for each application or set of applications. Alternatively, a legalized general power of attorney is accepted and may be used for subsequent filings.
2- Copy of corresponding home/foreign registration certificate (if available), with Arabic translation.
3- Copy of priority document, if priority is claimed, certified.
4- 10 prints of the mark for each application.
According to this new law and starting from April 12, 2007, find hereunder the main changes regarding trademarks:
- Introduction of a single class system. A separate application should be filed for each class of goods and services. For a multi-class trademark registered under the old law, a renewal application will generate separate renewal certificates according to the number of classes originally registered.
- Introduction of the use requirement. Non-use of 3 consecutive years makes a trademark vulnerable to cancellation by a third party.
- Introduction of an opposition procedure. It is possible to oppose to a trademark application within 90 days from the publication date.
- Trademarks which have successfully passed the opposition period will be published for a second time in the Trademarks Journal for confirmation of registration.
- The filing date and the registration date are the same.
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